Changes sought to North Dakota high-level radioactive waste bill

BISMARCK -- A citizen group urged legislators on Friday, Feb. 8, to let counties retain zoning authority over high-level radioactive waste facilities.

The suggestion was one of several amendments promoted by the North Dakota Community Alliance for a bill that relates to regulations of nuclear waste storage and disposal.

The group of Pierce County residents formed in 2016 after the U.S. Department of Energy proposed to drill an exploratory borehole near Rugby. Residents believe that, if the test had been successful, the federal government would have used eminent domain to establish a nuclear waste repository, said Rebecca Leier, a member of the alliance.

The Pierce County Commission halted the project by establishing a moratorium on deep borehole exploration.

Read more: https://www.inforum.com/news/government-and-politics/966840-Changes-sought-to-ND-high-level-radioactive-waste-bill